Method of and apparatus for closing glass containers



Aug. 30, 1960 Filed March 19. 1958 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GLASS CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY ZIOHIYHOHL ATTORN 5 1960 s. L. HARMON ETAL 2,950,587

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GLASS CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1958 um An T mwwllh W 1 l N V E N TO R 5 51121211? Lfiznoz BY dam/H0111: M

ATTOR 5 1960 s. L. HARMON EIAL 2,950,587

METHOD OF AND APPARATUSFOR CLOSING GLASS CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 19, 1958 INVENTORS JHEFflKD Lflmm BY c/OHZVHo M ATTOR S nun-4 lVIETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GLASS CONTAINERS Shepard L. Harmon and John Hohl, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of )hio Filed Mar. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 722,532

Claims. (CI. 5322) The present invention is a method of and apparatus for closing glass containers such as jars and more particularly is concerened with the provision of simple etfective means for excluding oxygen from the head space of filled jars just prior to and during the application of closure caps for sealing such containers.

An object of our invention is the provision of means whereby entry of oxygen into the headspace of filled jars during their travel from a filling machine to a closure cap applying zone, is held to a minimum, if not entirely eliminated, by the introduction of an inert gas into a tunnel through through which the containers travel and causing movement of such gas in the direction of travel of and substantially at the speed of travel of the jars. Thus turbulence of atmosphere in the tunnel about the mouth end of the jars is held to a minimum in that the advancing movement of the containers does not seriously disturb the inert gas occupying such headspace.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a tunnel through which filled, unclosed jars travel from a filling machine to a capper and means for introducing an inert gas into the tunnel in a fashion to concentrate such gas in the zone of travel of the upper open ends of the jars and causing such gas to advance with the jars substantially at the same linear speed of travel.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a novel curtain arrangement alongside a section of the tunnel referred to above to facilitate removal of filled jars from time to time for inspection purposes prior to their arrival in a capping or sealing zone.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a jar enclosing tunnel of the above character in which the cover or roof portion is formed with a distributor chamber for inert gas and with louvers or vanes so arranged as to cause forward movement of gas introduced into the tunnel.

It is likewise an object of our invention to provide in a structure as described above, an adhesive applying roller for coating the rim portion of container mouths preparatory to affixing a closure cap in which such cap carries an inner membrane-like seal intended to be bonded to the rim.

Further it is an object of our invention to provide means whereby even though the adhesive applying roller projects through and rotates in an opening in the gas distributing chamber in order to have rolling contact with the container rim portions, outside air cannot enter the tunnel and dilute the introduced inert gas.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the same plane as Fig. 3 but shows an extension of the gas nited States Patent 0 51cc 2950587 Patented Aug. 30, 1960 distributor, such being a continuation of the right-hand end of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, it is shown positioned between a jar transfer star wheel 10 and closure cap applying apparatus 11, said star wheel being associated with a jar filling machine (not shown) which may well be of conventional form. Jars 12 occupy normal upright positions upon a horizontal continuously moving conveyor 13, which may be of any preferred form. These jars 12 are filled with the product to be packaged, leaving a small headspace at the month end into which inert gas is introduced to replace oxygen normally filling such space. The presence of oxygen in packages of many kinds of products contributes to rapid spoilage and short shelf life and therefore is highly objectionable.

At the time the jars are filled with the product they contain a substantial quantity of inert gas, CO or nitrogen, as examples. Introduction of the product displaces a large portion of this gas but leaves enough to just about fill the headspace. It, of course, is highly desirable to retain this gas in the headspace throughout the handling and capping or sealing operations. To this end, we provide an elongated horizontal tunnel 14 generally inverted U-shape in cross-section, positioned over the conveyor 13 and extending from the star wheel 16 to the lower end of a closure cap chute 15 which is arranged just ahead of the capping apparatus 11. This tunnel functions to conline a blanket of inert gas about the mouth and neck portion of the filled jars and because such gas moves forwardly at about the same speed as the jar movement, the gas in the headspace remains substantially undisturbed. Structurally the tunnel comprises a header 16 to which a supply pipe 17 for inert gas is connected. The side enclosures (Figs. 1 and 5) comprise a depending rigid back wall 20 and a front wall in the form of overlapping flaps 20 which provide a flexible curtain as best shown in Fig. l. The floor 18 of this header is formed with openings 19 near its ends providing communication between said header and a pair of longitudinal side conduits 20. These conduits may be of generally rectangular cross-section and extend the full length of the tunnel. In the upper portion of the inner wall 21 of each conduit 20 is a longitudinal series of ports 22 which establish communication between said conduits and an expansion chamber 23. This expansion chamber comprises a roof plate 24 attached to the lower side of the header floor 18, a perforate floor section 25 and the side conduits 20. These conduits comprise the side walls of the expansion chamber and to the lower portion of the inner walls 21 are attached depending flanges 26. Immediately beneath the expansion chamber a difi user chamber 27 in provided.

This latter chamber 27 is coextensive with the expansion chamber and is formed in part by a cover plate 28 which is secured by screws 29 to the lower side of the conduits 20. A multiplicity of longitudinally spaced transverse discharge slots 30 are provided in this plate 28 to permit flow of inert gas into the tunnel proper. Thus a blanket is formed in that zone immediately above the mouth end of the jars and about the neck portions. It is important that this introduced gas advance with and at about the same speed as the jars, as explained heretofore. To effect such movement, pressure is carefully regulated and vanes or louvers 31 are attached to the slotted plate 28 of the diifuser chamber to direct the gas stream generally forward and downward. These vanes (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) are flat inclined plates, riveted or otherwise secured at their upper rearmost margins to the lower side of the cover plate 28 of the diffuser chaml I 7 a 3 ber 27 at points between the discharge slots 30. Thus they function as deflectors to direct gas entering the tunnel forwardly with the jars. The pressure is such that-this-gas moves at approximately the same speed as the jars. As a consequence, there is little if any tendency for the'advancing jars, to create such turbulence as to disturb or displace gas in the jar' headspace. v ,7 The tunnel 'is closed at its-forward end (Fig. 4) by a transverse inclined Wall 32 whichlies beneath the closure cap chute 15. A gas discharge slot 33 at the bottom edge of this wall provides for delivery of gas to the space between the wall and chute to thereby minimize the possibility of entry of atmospheric air through this space into the tunnel. The closure cap chute may be of generally conventional form and includes an inert gas manifold'34 formed with discharge ports 35 opening through the cap chute floor 15*. This permits a flow of inert gas into the open lower side of closure caps where by to purge the latter of oxygen. A supply pipe 36 for such gas is connected to the manifold 34.

In many situations it is desirable to aiiix an inner seal to the jar rim at the time of applying the closure cap C. Such is common practice today and as is well known the sealis athin Wafer-like .disk which initially is carried by the closure cap but ultimately separates therefrom and becomes sealed to the jar by reason of a coating of adhesive having been applied to therim just prior to threading the closure cap onto the jar. Our apparatus provides for such contingency by forming a vertical opening 37 entirely through the tunnel roof to accommodate an adhesive applying roller 38. This opening 37 is generally rectangular and longitudinally is bordered at its sides by the aforementioned conduits. Transverse Walls 39 close the otherwise open ends of the expansion and diffuser chambers 23 and 27, respectively. In the rearmost wall 39 nearest the header 16 is formed a series of discharge ports 40 which are inclined so as to direct gas generally upwardly into the space between said wall and the periphery of the roller 38 to prevent entry of outside air into the tunnel at this point. The other wall 39 at its lower edge has a discharge slot 41 formed to direct gas against the roller periphery to thereby reduce the likelihood of air entering the tunnel through the roller accommodating opening 37. The aforementioned roller is supported upon a carrier 42 which also carries a receptacle 43 for a liquid adhesive. 7 Wherever oxygen is referred to in this application, it is tobe understood that such is intended to also include free air which contains approximately twenty-one percent (21%) oxygen.

Modifications may be resorted to within the'spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim;

1. In apparatus for transferring filled unclosed jars from a filling machine to a closing machine and shielding the jars against entry of oxygen into the headspace, a horizontal continuously moving conveyor for supporting jars in upright positions and carrying them to the closing machine, an elongated tunnel enclosing the upper portions of the jars, as they travel along at least a part of the conveyor, said tunnelcomprising a horizontal roof section and depending longitudinal side walls, an inert gas distributing chamber provided in and extending the length of said roof section, said chamber provided with a multiplicity of discharge ports opening into the tunnel and inclined transversely extending louvers positioned above the path of travel of the jars to direct gas entering the tunnel forwardly in the direction of travel of the jars and means whereby the gas is caused to flow through the louvers substantially at the same speed as the jar advance whereby to minimize turbulence of gases within the tunnel normally created by the jar movement. 7

2. The combination defined in claim 1, the distributing chamber comprising a pair of parallel marginal conduits extending the length of said chamber, an expansion chamber connecting and communicating with said conduits and a diffuser chamber beneath and communicating with the expansion chamber, the, aforementioned discharge ports and'louvers being'provided in the lower side of the diffuser chamber.

3. The method which consists in continuously moving filled unclosed jars in upright position and in succession along a horizontal pathtoward a closure cap applying zone, providing an elongated enclosure for at least the upper end and adjacent side portions of the jars during at least a part of said movement, filling headspaces of the jars with an inert gas priorto their entry into the enclosure, blanketing said upper end and side portions of the jars with an inert gas and causing such blanket of gas to advance with the jars substantially at the same linear speed as that of the latter. 4. The method defined in claim 3, the blanket of gas being composed of a multiplicity of streams, the width of each extending in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the jars, the streams being immediately above the latter and each projected along a path declined forwardly in the direction of travel of the jars.

5. In apparatus for transferring product-filled unclosed jars from a filling machine to a closing machine and shielding the jars against entry of oxygen into the headspace, a horizontal continuously moving conveyor for supporting jars in upright positions and carrying them to the closing machine, an elongated tunnel of generally inverted U-shape in cross-section for enclosing at least the upper portions of the jars being conveyed, means for introducing an inert gas into said tunnel and causing it to travel with and at substantially the same linear speed as the jars, said tunnel having a restricted vertical opening above the conveyor, a glue applicator roll mounted in said opening for applying an adhesive to a selected surface of the jars, and means in certain walls of said opening for directing inert gas into the latter in directions to prevent entry of outside air into the tunnel via said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,107,237 Davies Feb. 1, 1938 2,262,685 Kronquest Nov. 11, 1941 2,339,035 Stewart et a1. Jan. 11, 1944 2,427,811 Rich Sept. 23, 1947 2,620,111 Hohl Dec. 2, 1952 2,628,757 'BIOWII L. Feb. 17, 1953 2,630,958 Hohl Mar. 10, 1953 2,759,307 Eolkin Aug. 21, 1956 2,763,107' Day Sept. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,954 Canada May 24, 1949 ime v-zngv 

